On matchday 8 of the 2021-2022 Serie A TIM, the Nerazzurri win 4-1 at the stadio Castellani in Empoli.
It was a strong start from both ends, as Muriel and Pašalić immediately got dangerous and the hosts responded to the Nerazzurri’s pressure through Henderson, who was denied by Demiral’s goal-line clearance. Atalanta broke through on 11 minutes when Pašalić rolled across for Iličić, who was unmarked and easily tapped in. Muriel heavily tested Vicario on 20 minutes and that preceded the Nerazzurri’s double, as the Colombian set Iličić up and the Slovenian hit a lovely left-foot curler from the edge of the box into the far top corner.
The double advantage, however, only lasted a few minutes because Di Francesco made it 1-2 by making the most of his speed at the half-hour mark. That was the scoreline at the end of the first half, as Muriel’s attempt in the 42nd minute was thwarted by Vicario.
Viti’s unlucky own goal opened the second half, as he intercepted Pašalić’s ball for Zapata but also scored an own goal and made it 3-1. The chance to add a fourth arrived in the 68th minute when Atalanta were awarded a penalty because of Bandinelli’s foul on Zappacosta (which was given after the VAR check) but Iličić fired over from the spot. Vicario turned Malinovskyi’s header over the bar on 78 minutes and then Freuler cleared an effort off the line before Atalanta’s fourth goal, which was scored by Zapata at full stretch on another Pašalić assist. With that goal, the forward has become the first Colombian to have scored 100 goals in Serie A. It ended 4-1 for the Nerazzurri at the Castellani, who now turn their focus to Manchester United.
EMPOLI 1-4 ATALANTA
Scorers: Iličić 11, 26 (A), Di Francesco 30 (A), Viti own goal 49 (E), Zapata 89 (A)
Empoli: Vicario; Stojanovic, Romagnoli (Tonelli 42), Viti, Marchizza (Parisi 82); Haas (Bandinelli 46), Stulac, Zurkowski (Bajrami 62); Henderson; Di Francesco (Cutrone 62), Pinamonti.
Bench: Ujkani, Mancuso, La Mantia, Fiamozzi, Asllani, Luperto, Ismajli, Parisi.
Coach: Aurelio Andreazzoli.
Atalanta: Musso, Toloi (Freuler 39), Demiral, Palomino, Zappacosta, de Roon, Koopmeiners (Lovato 68), Mæhle, Pašalić, Iličić (Malinovskyi 68), Muriel (Zapata 46).
Bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Pezzella, Scalvini, Oliveri, Zuccon, Miranchuk, Piccoli.
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Marco Serra from Turin.
Assistants: Marcello Rossi from Novara and Francesco Fiore from Barletta.
Fourth official: Giacomo Camplone from Pescara.
V.A.R.: Luca Banti from Livorno.
A.V.A.R.: Ciro Carbone from Naples.
Notes: Iličić missed a penalty on 68 minutes; Marchizza (E), Stulac (E), Bandinelli (E), Freuler (A), Palomino (A) booked.
